Royal AM secured their third successive DStv Premiership victory when they overcame TS Galaxy 4-2 at the Chatsworth Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The victory saw Thwihli Thwahla leapfrog Orlando Pirates into fourth place on the league standings, while the Rockets, who are still winless this season, remained 15th on the log.
Thwihli Thwahla pressed the Rockets high up the pitch – forcing the visitors into making mistakes in their own half and the hosts capitalised from one of the errors just three minutes into the game.
Tshidiso Monamodi scored to hand Royal AM a 1-0 lead after putting pressure on the Galaxy defence – blocking a clearance from goalkeeper Websten van der Linde and the ball hit the back of the net.
Things went from bad to worse for the Rockets as they were reduced to 10 players after Marks Munyai was sent off for making a dangerous challenge on Monamedi and the hosts took full control of the match.
Royal AM went 2-0 up two minutes before the half-hour mark, with Levy Mashiane bursting into the Galaxy box, before firing past Van der Linde, with Tebogo Potsane providing the assist.
Having netted twice against Kaizer Chiefs last weekend, Victor Letsoalo continued his scoring form as the 28-year-old hitman turned home Zukile Mkhize’s cross to make it 3-0 to Royal AM a minute before half-time.
The Rockets did most of the attacking after the restart as they looked to pull one back within the first 10 minutes of the second-half and Ethan Brooks’ low shot from outside the box was easily saved by keeper Hugo Nyame.
Galaxy were then awarded a penalty after Mokone Mereko was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box and Pogiso Sanoka beat Nyame from the spot-kick to make it 3-1 in the 77th minute.
However, the visitors went to sleep at the back and they were punished by Kabelo Mahlasela, who scored with a good finish to extend Royal AM’s lead to 4-1 in the 86th minute after a mistake by the Galaxy defence.
Owen Da Gama’s charges refused to back down as they reduced the deficit again when Mxolisi Macuphu scored with a glancing header in stoppage time, but Royal AM held on to claim a 4-2 victory.
Royal AM (3) 4 (Monamodi 4′, Mashiane 28′, Letsoalo 44′, Mahlasela 86′)
Galaxy (0) 2 (Sanoka 77′, Macuphu 90’+2)
Royal AM: Nyame, Mkhize, Rikhotso, Lingwati (Mereko 60′), Monamodi, Mashikinya (Mdluli 90’+1), Manganyi, Potsane (Thikazi 73′), Mahlasela (Masuku 87′), Mashiane (Van der Ross 73′), Letsoalo.
Galaxy: Van der Linde, Sanoka, Makitan, Mahlangu (Aubaas 46′), Munyai, Mbunjana, Mbatha, Brooks (Mokoena 63′), Macuphu, Phohlongo (Phohlongo 70′), Lekay (Seedat 46′).© Backpage TXT.
SOURCED FROM THE PSL WEBSITE.
